Audrey Parente started working on Once a Pulp Man back back in 1988. She interviewed Judson P. Philips (aka, Hugh Pentecost) several times and even spent three days going through his business records relating to his publishing activities. Then, a series of roadblocks prevented Audrey Parente from finishing her book as planned in 1995: the publisher, Starmont House went under when the owner, Ted Dikty, died. Audrey Parente’s next publisher for Once a Pulp Man, Borgo Press, went under, too. So Parente shelved her project and became a full-time journalist for The Daytona Beach News-Juournal for the next 20 years.
When Parente retired in 2012, she encountered Judson Philips’ son, Dan, and got re-energized to finish the Once a Pulp Man book. The book was published in 2016 by Bold Venture Press. If you’re a fan of the Hugh Pentecost mysteries (or the Judson Philips books) Audrey Parente supplies plenty of facts about the fiction output of a prolific author. Audrey Parente provides plenty of information about the pulp fiction industry. You’re not going to find a more complete bibliography of the Philips/Pentecost books and stories. I loved all the cover artwork! Books like Once a Pulp Man are labors of love. It’s clear that in this case, Audrey Parente loved her project. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I. Meet Judson P. Philips: By Bernard Drew 7
II. Preface 13
1. Where Did the Pulp Man Go? 21
2. Who Was the Lonely Boy? 41
3. Hugh Pentacost Rises 73
4. Will the Real, Real Judson Philips Please, Please Sign In? 89
5. Women Troubles: The Loss of Hope 123
6. The Playhouse 155
7. The Editors 175
8. The Series Characters 193
9. On Foreign Reprints and Translations 201
10. The Newspapers 207
11. The Rest of Story 215
III. Bibliography 223
Pulps 223
Anthologies, Digest, Magazines, Periodicals, Misc 237
Radio, Scripts, Plays 271
IV. An Interestin g Prequel 275
V. About the Author 283
This actually sounds interesting, even though you could count the books I’ve read by him on one thumb!
Bob, Audrey Parente has done a good job capturing the essence of Judson Philips/Hugh Pentecost’s long career. A labor of love!
Thanks for this, George. I didn’t know about Judson P. Philips or that he’d written a hundred mystery and detective novels.
Prashant, I’ve read mysteries by Hugh Pentecost and enjoyed them. I also have a few by Judson Philips that I haven’t gotten to yet. ONCE A PULP MAN shows how prolific Philips was.
I didn’t know about this book. Great stuff.
Bill, I had no idea about ONCE A PULP MAN, either. I saw it mentioned in MYSTERY SCENE and immediately ordered a copy. Wonderful book!
Sounds great! I read his first big success – CANCELLED IN RED – and a couple of other Pentecost books, including the Crippen & Landru collection of John Jericho stories, but I’ve always wanted to try some of his earlier pulpy stuff. I like the idea of the complete bibliography too.
Jeff, ONCE A PULP MAN provides an exhaustive bibliography. My immediate reaction was to dig out some Hugh Pentecost mysteries! I plan to read them soon!
OK. Bought the Kindle edition for $4.99!
Jeff, the artwork in ONCE A PULP MAN is very cool, too! Love those old pulp covers!
I think I’ve read some books by him under both names, but am not sure. Wasn’t one of the protagonists a hotel detective?? I didn’t collect either author, so they weren’t “Keepers” for me, though I have a memory of enjoying them
Back from a very nice LCC. The convention was glitch free. My friend Nancy rented a car, and we drove all over Oahu. A highlight was the visit to Pearl Harbor, and the food. We found a restaurant in a bowling alley we visited twice. Both times, we split food, and had a sandwich with grilled turkey that had been marinated in Coke. It was great. I had guava chiffon pancakes with a fruit sauce that I’m craving at this minute.
Maggie, glad you’re back! We missed you! After reading your comment, I’m craving pancakes, too!
And I don’t even remember that author – though I read a lot of “pulp” in the 60s and 70s …
Will look himup though.
Wolf, Judson Philips (aka, “Hugh Pentecost”) was a prolific writer. The bibliography in ONCE A PULP MAN goes on for pages and pages!
Great choice, George! I’m a big fan of Judson Phillips/Hugh Pentecost/Philip Owen, having first encountered his writing in the 1960’s EQMMs. I’ve managed to read all of his novels and all but three of his collections. Like many of his fellow pulpsters, he made writing good stories look so easy. Parente also wrote books onpulpsters Hugh B. Cave and Theodore Roscoe.
Jerry, I’ve read some Pentecost mysteries, but now I want to read more! I’m going to track down copies of Parente’s books on Hugh B. Cave and Theodore Roscoe, too! I’ve very impressed you’ve read so much of Philips/Pentecost’s work!
Haven’t read much of his Philips work but I have read many of the Pentecost books starring Pierre Chambrun. I like them a lot–they have a bit of the Nero Wolfe vibe. I need to read this. joe
Joe, I think you’re going to be pleased by ONCE A PULP MAN. I want to read more of Philips/Pentecost’s books as a result of reading it.
I liked the Pentecost stories I’ve red…and always admired that pseudonym…
Or, even, readed.
Todd, I used to see Hugh Pentecost mysteries everywhere. I bought some, but I kick myself for not buying them all where they were readily available.